Busby sores brace as hosts defeat county rivals

HENLEY 2nds ran out comfortable winners in their home Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern North clash with Bicester last Saturday in a match played out in windy conditions.

Henley started brightly and slowly built pressure but were not quite getting their game following. The forwards set up pressure from the line-out and Freddie Cow that got their game following with the first try.

Bicester came back into the game with their forwards causing problems for the Henley pack. They built up phases and took advantage of Henley’s ill-discipline that led them to a five metre line-out which they drove over. To make matters worse Henley then lost Barney Stentiford to a team yellow card.

This setback got Henley into gear and lifted their game. Some good hands saw Henley take the ball up to the line where they switched the ball to the other side for Small to crash over to give the hosts a 10-7 half-time lead.

Bicester kicked off the second half and it was Henley’s backs that kicked into gear as some free flowing running saw Oscar Busby crash over. Soon after a strong run from Edem Adablah saw the ball recycled and Matt Cooke was able to commit his man and give an inside ball to the impressive hooker Charlie Sichel who glided his way through to the line.

The next try was set up after a kick and chase from Ross Lewis which saw captain Lucas Braithwaite find Stentiford who crashed over from five metres.

Cooke was controlling the tempo of the game and using the space well to give his wingers space and good hands from the backs saw Busby dart in for his second. He could have had his hat-trick soon afterwards, a break down the outside before selflessly giving the inside pass to Tom David to run in behind the posts.

The final try came from a counterattack where good timing of each pass saw Cow giving the easy to pass to Rhyan Scott Young to dot in the corner.

l Henley 3rds’ match away at Milton Keynes was postponed as the visitors were unable to raise a side.